The NRA Home Air Gun Program 1st Edition – April 2012 © Copyright 2012 National Rifle Association of America. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. To order support materials, please call the NRA Program Materials Center toll free at 1-800-336-7402, or visit us online at: www.materials.nrahq.org Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 am to 8:00 pm Eastern Standard Time Prices subject to change without notice. All orders subject to shipping fees and sales tax where applicable. Table of Contents ii Introduction 1 Chapter 1: Parents’ Role in Shooting Sports 1 Scoring Targets 2 Chapter 2: Types and Uses of BB and Air Guns 2 Retention: Make it Fun 3 Recreational Air Guns 3 Shopping for Air Guns 3 Gun Selection 3 BB Guns 4 Beginner Air Rifles 4 Sporter Air Guns 5 Precision Air Guns 5 Pellets 6 Chapter 3: Selection of Equipment i 6 Shopping List 8 Air Gun Manufacturers & Suppliers 9 Chapter 4: Constructing an Air Gun Range 9 Things to Consider 9 Primary Backstops 11 Range Layout and Flow 12 Formal Competitive Range table of contents 12 Portable Ranges 13 Chapter 5: The Next Steps 13 Why Shoot Competitively? 13 NRA Classification System 13 Tournaments 13 Youth Hunter Education Challenge 14 Path to the Olympics 14 Awards and Scholarships 14 Outstanding Achievement Youth Award 14 NRA Civil Rights Defense Fund Youth Essay Contest 14 Youth Education Summit 14 NRA Youth Wildlife Art Contest 14 Affiliating or Enrolling with the NRA 15 Grants from The NRA Foundation for Your Shooting Sports Program 15 NRA Training 15 Become an Instructor 16 Glossary Introduction The NRA’s Home Air Gun NRA Marksmanship Qualifica- Program brings marksmanship tion Program activities. This activities directly to the com- qualification program provides munity where a new apprecia- continuing performance lev- tion for the shooting sports can els that shooters use to gauge be kindled and pursued. The their development. The step- intent of this guide is to pro- levels are score-based aver- vide parents, teachers, activity ages which are challenging but leaders and club leaders with attainable from the beginning information and guidance on to the highest level. Reach- the exciting world of BB gun ing each of these levels builds and air gun shooting sports.* self-confidence and gives the This program will guide you on: participants a sense of accom- how to conduct a safe and fun plishment. The Winchester/ BB and air gun shooting exer- NRA Marksmanship Qualifica- cise, how to construct portable tion Program is not only for and permanent ranges, how to youth but for all ages interested select a BB or air gun, where to in shooting. ii purchase them and a curricu- lum to follow. Shooting sports have helped youth learn how to achieve The Home Air Gun Program’s goals, while learning self- flexibility will enable you to discipline, time management, individualize each program to acceptance of responsibility, meet your needs, whether it respect for others, loyalty, lead- introduction is a one-time fun event or a ership, selflessness and, espe- program that leads to a com- cially, teamwork. petitive shooting program. Exposure to the shooting sports * While the terms “BB gun and also instills life skills, such as air gun” are commonly used self-discipline, concentration together in this document, it or simply learning how to fol- should be noted they are not low the rules. Even a simple the same. summer program that operates once a week for a period of six weeks can provide an excellent opportunity for discovery and the development of a lifelong hobby. For parents, teachers, activ- ity leaders or club leaders, we have included an air rifle orientation session and Power Point presentation covering safe gun handling and beginning marksmanship. After safety and basic marksmanship have been learned, continued interest is supported with the Winchester/ Chapter 1: Parents’ Role in Shooting Why do kids play sports? Coaches develop competitors Scoring Targets from the beginning stages Kids play sports for many dif- through high school and (See illustration below.) For ferent reasons, such as to make college teams to the national additional scoring rules and friends, get out from behind level. NRA instructors teach the clarifications on scoring plugs the computer or TV and to be NRA’s basic firearm courses. consult the NRA’s rule books or more physically active. They For more information about see: www.nrahq.org/compete/ also may want to learn new the NRA’S Coach School visit: targetsbooks.asp. skills or improve on skills they www.nrahq.org/education/ have, and, mainly, to have fun. training/coaching/coach_ training_schools.asp. To enroll Kids develop a positive self- in one of our many instructor image by mastering a skill such classes see: www.nrainstructor. 1 as shooting. They also learn to org. work as a team, and by doing so gain social skills and learn to respect others. Learning to appreciate an active lifestyle through the shooting sports can become a lifelong activity. As parents you have the oppor- tunity to help build your child’s self-esteem by emphasizing skill development and keeping winning in perspective—all parents’ role in shooting while cheering them on, stay- ing positive and not pushing them too much. Parents should be involved! As in any sport, the coach or instructor cannot do it all. There are many things a parent Hits: “X”=1, “10”=2, “9”=2 can help with such as: keeping Score: 48 points, 1-X the youth who are waiting to shoot occupied, and keeping stats for the Winchester/NRA Scoring Targets Marksmanship Qualification • Hits outside the scoring rings have a value of Program: www.nrahq. zero. org/education/training/ marksmanship/index.asp. For • Hits completely or partially inside a scoring those with an interest in the ring receive that ring’s value. shooting sports, becoming a • Hits that touch a scoring ring receive that coach or instructor is a new and exciting hobby. NRA ring’s value. Chapter 2: Air Gun Appeal ir gun shooting is by far excellent tool for meaningful more competitive goals, you Athe most flexible, diverse exposure and learning shoot- need to make sure that it is and adaptable shooting activity ing skills. Their dimunitive size fun. When an activity becomes available today. and weight make it possible too monotonous people tend for younger, smaller children to drop out. Introducing your • Air guns promote discipline to participate in marksmanship shooters to the Winchester/ diversity. Within the dis- activities. NRA Marksmanship Qualifica- cipline of airguns are rifle tion Program (www.nrahq.org/ applications and within rifle Starting young can really pay education/training/marksman- are recreational, sporter and off! Just ask Kim Rhode. She ship/index.asp) is one way to precision disciplines. There started shooting when she was keep shooters engaged. Per- are also pistol applications. six, and at the age of 17, she formance is measured against won her first Olympic gold established par scores, and any • Air guns promote equip- medal in double trap (1996 shooter who meets or exceeds ment diversity, including Summer Olympics). Patty Spur- those scores is entitled to the BB guns and air guns that gin Pitney was just 18 when corresponding recognition include recreational mod- she won the women’s air rifle awards for that rating. It’s an els, sporter models, training gold medal in 1984. 2 models and high-tech preci- honor system. sion models. Another great appeal is that a Shooters acquire the large dis- formal range is not required. cipline patch at the onset of the • Air guns promote target di- An air gun range can be set program and as each rating is versity. Target types include up anywhere there is space; earned, they are entitled to all knockdowns, spinners, indoors—in a home, basement, of the corresponding awards for noisemakers, silhouettes, garage, barn, gym, classroom the rating. Each rating level has cans, homemade targets, or clubhouse, or outdoors—in a skill rocker, medal and certifi- air gun appeal stationary targets, moving a yard, field or even under a cate award that recognizes and targets, metal targets, bulls- tent. An air gun range can be highlights the achievement. eye targets and pop-ups. a temporary arrangement that • Air guns promote applica- can be quickly dismantled if Monthly matches can be tion diversity, including space is needed, or it can be another fun event to keep the safety education, fun shoot- permanent with a foundation participants engaged and start ing, marksmanship training, and cover. In essence, you steering them toward more hunter safety education and can make it as simple or as formal competitions. The learn- hunting applications, tar- elaborate as you want it to be. ing scenarios, activities and Versatility, diversity, low cost, events you design into the pro- get practice, biathlons and informal ranges, and a variety competition—all the way of applications and activities all from local, fun matches to contribute to air gun popular- world-class events such as ity and appeal. See Chapter 4 World Cup matches, to the for more details, including legal Pan-American Games and considerations when planning even the Olympic Games. a range and the discharge of air Air gun popularity and appeal guns. is also rooted in the low dol- lar investment costs associated with setting up and running the Retention–Make it Fun activity. Entry-level air guns are inexpensive yet durable, ac- Whether your group meets to curate, easy to handle and an shoot recreationally or it has gram are limited only by your Shopping For Air Guns glean price lists from manufac- imagination.